The Rush: Dame and Ja lead Blazers and Grizzlies to play-in series
It was a wild day for the bottom of the NBA’s Western Conference. The Grizzlies and Suns both won, eliminating the Spurs from playoff contention and ending their 23-year postseason streak and keeping the Suns undefeated at 8-0 in Orlando. But then the Trail Blazers, led by red-hot Damian Lillard, beat the Nets, sending the Suns home, and earn the Blazers the right to play Memphis, who went 2-6 in the bubble, for the 8th seed in the West. In NFL land, tight ends Travis Kelce and George Kittle both signed lucrative extensions with the Chiefs and 49ers respectively, with Kittle setting the record for a TE contract. PLUS: Seahawks undrafted rookie CB Kemah Siverand was cut after trying to sneak a lady friend disguised as a player into the team hotel.
Video Transcript
- Oh, my goodness.
- Look at this shot by Lillard!
- Oh, my goodness.
- Oh!
- That was from the NBA logo. One dribble over halfcourt, dead center.
- Wow, what a shot.
JARED QUAY: That was my man, Damian Lillard, doing what Dame Dollas been doing all year-- putting up buckets and leading the trailblazers to a win against the G League Nets, which clinches them a spot in the play-in series for the eighth seed in the West.
In fact, for like the thousandth time this season, Dame was practically unguardable. Man, gets buckets. It seems pretty clear to me who the bubble MVP is.
- And what a defensive play by Lillard!
JARED QUAY: And with the win, Dame and the Blazers eliminate the other guy who was up for the imaginary title. Despite a 128 to 102 win over the Mavericks and going 8 and 0 in Orlando, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns are packing their bags to go back home. I just want to point out they clearly like playing in Orlando much better than they do in Phoenix.
- Sick burn.
JARED QUAY: Unlike the Grizzlies, who despite going 2 and 6 in Orlando, clinched the other spot in the play-in series after a 119 to 106 victory over the Bucks. Ja Morant and Jonas Valanciunas became the first Grizzlies teammates to record a triple-double in the same game.
So that's pretty cool, but Giannis didn't play because he was suspended. Hell, I would put up a hundred points against the Bucks without Giannis.
- [LAUGHS]
JARED QUAY: And the Bucks have already locked up the 1 seed. So talk about catching a break. But the victories from the Grizzlies and the Suns meant that the 22-year playoff streak for the Spurs is coming to an end. So Gregg Popovich and crew will be watching the postseason from their couch.
- Ouch.
JARED QUAY: Figuring out these bubble scenarios was more complicated than negotiating the NFL contract extension. Just ask these tight ends. George Kittle and Travis Kelce both in new contract extension with the 49ers and the Chiefs respectively. Kelce got 4-year, $57 million dollar extension. While my man, George Kittle, set a record for tight ends with a 5-year, $75 million extension.
Damn, that's quarterback money right there. You got to be able to throw a football when you're doing that kind of money. And if you think that's nice, well then let me tell you about the $40 million guaranteed. That's more than double any other tight end.
He's two Tony Gonzaleses. He's two Jimmy Grahams. He's two Rob Gronkowskis. I mean, it definitely makes sense. The two best tight ends in the game just got paid. But I still can't figure out how the Chiefs are still paying all these guys. They got like five of the highest paid players in the NFL on one team. Kudos to them.
But I know a guy who ain't getting paid no more. The Seattle Seahawks cut undrafted rookie cornerback Kemah Siverand.
- Why's that?
JARED QUAY: I'll tell you why. This dude got caught on camera trying to sneak a female visitor into the team hotel during the middle of a pandemic.
- What a dork.
JARED QUAY: Which, needless to say, is a horrible idea when the NFL is hanging on by a string just to have a season. The best part is she was disguised as a Seahawks football player. So I got to ask, just how far did they go? Was
It like her wearing a football helmet and pads and eye black trying to walk though? Or was it like sweatpants and a hoodie? Because even then, you got put like a weight vest underneath it because football players is big. Maybe she must have acted like she was a kicker. She'd probably got away as a kicker, but have to have your hoodie on. And she'd have her flip-flops and socks. you got to have socks with your--